Profession of Industrial/Organisational Psychology in Ghana: History, Training

and Employment

Seth Oppong*Depart. of Psychology & Human Development

Regent University College of Science & TechnologyAccra-Ghana; September 20, 2010

*Founding partner of O&O Research Bureau; Trainer at African Institute of Management Science; HR coordinator for Alliance Against Irregular Migration

Outline• Defining I/O psychology• Differences between I/O and Business

programmes• Brief history of I/O in Ghana• Employment settings of I/O psychologists in

Ghana• Educational requirements for practice of I/O

psychology• Ghana Institute of Industrial and

Organisational Psychology (GIIOP)

Defining I/O psychology

• I/O psychology is a branch of psychology that applies the principles and theories of psychology to the workplace

• The Canadian Psychological Association says of I/O psychologists as professionals who “are able to apply psychological theories to explain and enhance the effectiveness of human behavior and cognition in the workplace”

What do I/O Psychologists in Ghana usually do?*

• Analyze jobs• Conduct organisational analysis• Conduct survey of employee feelings and opinions• Design an employee performance appraisal system• Design an employee selection programme• Design a training programme• Conduct training• Manage payrolls • Evaluate the effectiveness of an activity or practice such as

a training programme• Implement an organisational change such as a new pay

structure

*This is based on nature of job responsibilities and oral literature

Traditional Classification of I/O Fields*

• Industrial psychology– Personnel psychology– Ergonomics or engineering psychology

• Organizational psychology– Organizational behaviour – Organizational theory and design

*Based on Dr. Akuamoah-Boateng’s classification of I/O usually taught at the undergraduate level

Major Fields of I/O Psychology*• Industrial (Personnel) psychology

– According Latham (2007), the I in I/O is equivalent to Human Resource Management

• Organizational Psychology– According Latham (2007), the O in I/O is

equivalent to Organizational Behaviour

• Human Factors/Ergonomics• Occupational Health Psychology

*Based on Dr. Mike Aamodt, Radford University, Virginia

Differences between I/O and Business programmes

• Application of psychological principles best distinguishes I/O from the related fields typically taught in business departments and schools

• I/O examines factors that influence the people in an organization as opposed to the broader aspects of running an organization

• I/O practitioners rely extensively on research, quantitative methods, and testing techniques– I/O practitioners are trained as Scientist-practitioners

(Boulder Training Model in Psychology)

History of I/O psychology in Ghana• Relatively new in Ghana*

– I/O is nearly 40 years old in Ghana if we trace its beginnings to the first I/O class at the undergraduate level in the 1970s

– However, if we trace its beginnings to the first Doctoral level I/O psychologist in Ghana in the early 1980s, then I/O is probably 30 years old in Ghana

• Dr. Robert Akuamoah-Boateng obtained his Ph.D. in 1982 from University of Kent

• Depart. Of Psychology started providing and continue to provide consulting services to Ghana Armed Forces (aptitude testing, training, etc.) as well as Ghana Commercial Bank

• Started when an undergraduate level course in I/O was introduced and later on post-graduate degrees (MPhil and PhD) were introduced *History presented here is based on oral literature as no such history has been documented. This rather represents the first attempt to do so.

History of I/O psychology in Ghana – Cont’d.

• The first batch of master’s level I/O psychologists graduated in the early 1980s from the University of Ghana, Legon.

• A post-graduate degree can now be obtained in Ghana at University of Ghana, Legon and University of Applied Management (MA Business Psychology with I/O specialization)• An alternative MPhil in HRM can also be obtained at University of

Ghana Business School• A bachelor’s degree in I/O can also be obtained at University of

Applied Management• Does not have a vibrant association like SIOP BUT one has began as

Industrial & Organizational Psychologists Association, Ghana on www.facebook.com

• Employment prospects is good but one has to explain himself or herself to gain access

Leading I/O Figures in Ghana• Dr Robert Akuamoah-Boateng (Psychology Depart., University

of Ghana)– Among the pioneers in Ghana– Trained many of the master’s level I/O psychologists in Ghana and

many who have obtained their PhD now including such people as Dr. Asumeng and Dr. Amponsah Tawiah

• Dr. Bill Puplampu (University of Ghana Business School)– First I/O psychologists to have headed the Depart. of Organisation and

Human Resource Management within the shores of Ghana– Introduced an I/O-related journal , Management & Organisation, in

Ghana– Introduced an alternative to MPhil I/O at the Business School, MPhil

HRM

Administration, Central University College-Ghana (2010)– Currently appointed as the Dean of School of Business Management and

Leading I/O Figures in Ghana – Cont’d.

• Many of the Ghanaian I/O psychologists in the Diaspora have had very little impact on the shape and form of I/O practice in Ghana– Their major contribution has been in the area of I/O research using

Ghanaian samples; are even hardly heard of or read by I/Os in Ghana– Eg: Dr. Seth Gyekye Ayim, a senior lecturer in Occupational Psychology

at the Department of Human Sciences and Law, Buckinghamshire New University, UK and probably among the Ghanaian pioneers in the area of occupational health psychology

• Akosuah Agyeman – arguably among the first female master’s level I/O psychologists trained by Dr. Akuamoah-Boateng and who has succesfully practised I/O since graduation– CEO of Crossbridge Consult and faculty member at Organisational

Development Centre (ODC)

Few of the Consulting Firms by I/O Psychologists in Ghana

1. O&O Research Bureau (Seth & Alfred, MPhil)2. Psychon HR (Bill Puplampu, PhD)3. Occpsych Ghana LLC (Roland Teye, MS)4. Industrial/Organisational Psychology Ltd. (Akuamoah-Boateng,

PhD)5. Covenant Associates (Amponsah Tawiah, PhD)6. Bureau of Market & Social Research (Martin Gyambrah, PhD;

partner)7. Crossbridge Consult (Akosuah Agyeman, MPhil)8. Psycfields Consulting (Kwabena Nkansah Sempe, MPhil)9. Sankofa Solutions, Inc. (Wilhelmina Esi Parker, MSc)10. Occupational Management Ltd. (Anita Wiafe, MSc)11. Sun Solutions Ghana Ltd. (Dela Akpakli, MPhil)

Akosuah Agyeman, MPhil

Positions usually held by I/O Psychologists in Private Companies in Ghana

• HR Manager• HR Director• Training Manager• Training Coordinator• Training Officer (entry level)*• HR Officer (entry level)*• Research Officer (entry level)*• Research Coordinator

*Positions held during internships/industrial attachment

Some of the Organizations where I/O psychologists work in Ghana (2010) – all hold either managerial or supervisory position*

*This list excludes the I/O psychologists hired by the I/O consulting firms in the country**Used to work with them

Organization Position/Department1. Zenith Bank Customer Service2. Barclays Bank HR 3. Ghana Commercial Bank Deputy HR Director4. Ghana Commercial Bank HR5. Intercontinental Bank Training Coordinator6. Intercontinental Bank Customer Service7. Vodafone Ghana Training 8. PriceWaterHouseCoopers HR9. HFC Bank HR10. Opportunity International Manager (Reward & Compensation)11. Metropolitan Insurance Company HR12. GC-Net HR13. INGConsult HR/OD Consultant14. African Institute of Management Science Training Consultants15. B.APPAH Electricals Ltd. HR & Admin Manager16. Gamey & Gamey** Training/Research17. Axis Human Capital Ltd** HR/OD18. The Capital Group** Recruitment/Training19. Amal Bank HR20. Tema Development Corporation (TDC) HR Manager21. Cal Bank HR Manager

Universities and Institutes in Ghana that hire I/O Psychologists as Lecturers*

1. Business School, Green Hill College-GIMPA2. Depart. of Psychology, University of Ghana3. University of Ghana Business School4. ISSER, University of Ghana5. Centre for Migration Studies, University of Ghana6. Business School, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science &

Technology 7. Institute of Education, University of Cape Coast8. Business School, University of Cape Coast9. Regent University College of Science & Technology10. Methodist University College11. Ghana Institute of Journalism

*Based on Google search and oral literature

Universities and Institutes in Ghana that hire I/O Psychologists as Lecturers – Cont’d.

12. School of Business Management and Administration (SBMA)Central University College (the I/O is the new Dean)

13. University of Applied Management14. Knutsford University College15. Wisconsin International University College16. Data Link University College (Social psychologist)17. Manifold Institute18. Principal College19. Ambassador’s College20. Institute of Human Resource Management Practitioners- Ghana21. Organizational Development Centre22. Organizational Capacity Improvement Consultants -Ghana

Educational requirements for practice of I/O psychology in Ghana

• Need at least a master’s degree to practise I/O and in some countries (South Africa, US. UK, etc) a license

• In Ghana, no licensing is required for practice• Two types of Graduate programmes exist

– Master’s programmes• Coursework, thesis, practicum (6 months)• Two years• Master’s level I/O psychologists tend to practise I/O• Takes an average 2 years, 8 months to complete in Ghana

– Doctoral programmes• Dissertation • Three years after master’s (5 years)• Doctoral level I/O psychologists tend to teach and research

The Premier I/O Graduate Programme at the Depart. of Psychology, University of Ghana, Legon

Core Courses• Research Methods• Statistics and Data Analysis• Psychometrics • Contemporary Issues in Social

Psychology• Social Psychology of Gender• Systems and Theories of

Psychology

Main I/O courses• Personnel Psychology• Accident and Safety at Work• Organizational Behaviour• Organizational Theory• Human Relations in Organizations• Contemporary Issues in I/O

Psychology• Consumer Behaviour*• Ergonomics*

*Courses not usually taught

Universities in Ghana that offerundergraduate level course in I/O

1. University of Ghana2. University of Applied Management (BA Business

Psychology with I/O concentration)3. University of Cape Coast (Business School &

Psychology Department) 4. Regent University College of Science & Technology5. Methodist University College 6. University College of Management Studies7. Data Link Institute (Organisational psychology)

Prospects for I/O Field in Ghana• Rapidly growing

– New areas/topics– Attracting more graduate students– More graduate programs (Online and Distance

education opportunities)– More psychologists in the world

• Job market picking up: Academic and applied• According to the coordinator for internship

programmes at Top Talent Resources Ghana Ltd., many HR managers prefer to hire psychology graduates in HR departments to hiring HRM graduates

Trend of I/O Student Enrollment at University of Ghana, Legon*

Academic Year

Number of Students

Percentage Increase

2006/2007 5 --

2007/2008 6 20.00%

2008/2009 8 33.33%

2009/2010 15 87.50%

*This excludes student enrollment in MPhil HRM at the University of Ghana Business School

Prospects for I/O Field in Ghana – Cont’d.• A growing number of HR/Management

consulting firms beginning to hire master’s level I/O psychologists in Ghana

• We still have a long way to go convincing non-I/O practitioners our value to organizations in Ghana– Still need branding – Need a vibrant I/O association in Ghana like SIOP or

SIOP-SA– Review of I/O curriculum to reflect current global

trends

Additional Knowledge and Skills I/O practitioners should Develop*

• Presentation skills• ICT skills• Advanced research skills• Advanced data analysis skills• Deep knowledge of the area of concentration or

interest• Marketing Skills

– Self-presentation– Branding – Persuasive communication *List is based on personal experience and oral literature

Ghana Institute of Industrial andOrganisational Psychology (GIIOP)

• Purpose – To serve as an umbrella organisation for I/O practitioners in

Ghana– To advance the interests of I/O practitioners in Ghana and

West Africa– To introduce licensing examinations – To support continuing professional development activities of

I/O practitioners– To provide social support to members in following the areas:

• Job alerts for job-seekers• Conduct of research • Access to timely information

GIIOP• Membership is open to

– I/O and social psychologists– MA/PhD (OD) holders; MPhil/MBA/PhD (HRM)

holders– MA/PhD (Adult Education) holders– Interested BA/BSc Psychology holders;

BA/BSc/BBA (HRM)holders– Continuing BA/BSc Psychology students

• For more information about GIIOP contact– Patrick Asiamah (coordinator) on 0244968407 or

0271048971 or via pak4gh@yahoo.com

Thank YouOppon.seth@gmail.com